The king and the miller of Mansfield. A dramatick tale

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UigiliHl by Google

UigiliHl by Google

UigiliHl by Google

THE

K IN G

AN D T HE

MI L L E R.

Q®! 88» iB» 8 88 » 8'8C8 8aa®S®
[Price One-ShiUing.]

»ibvGo'oglc

Pramatis PeiTon?e.

MEN.

The King. . Mr.Ciiitr,

The M 1 LL E R, Mr. Mifllr.

RlCHARlJthe MiHtr'sSoitf Mr. Bmj,
LordLuREWELL, "Hit.E/h.
Courtiers and
Keepers of th^Forcft.

W O M EN.

Peggy,

Margery,

Kate,

Mrs. PritcharJ,
Mrs. Bennett
Mr& Crofi,

SCENE, Shtrwmd'Fcrefi,

»ib.Googlc

THE"

K IN G

AND THE

M I L L E R^

SCENE, Sherwood Forefi,
Enter feveral Courtiers as hj},
I Courtier.
\ I S horrid dark .' and this
Wood I believe has nei-
I ther End nor Side.

4 C. You mean to get

out at, for we have found

one in you fee.

2 C, I wife our good King Harny

had kept nearer home to hunt j in my

B Mind

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( 10 )

Mind the pretty, tame Deer in tdndim
make much better Sport thafl the wild
ones in. Skerivood Forefi.
■. 3 C. I can't tell which Way his
Majefty went, nor whether any-body
is with him or not, but let us keep
tpgether pray.

4C.Ay, ay, -like true Courtiers,
take Care of ourfelves whatever be-
comes of Matter.

2 C Well, it's a terrible Thing to
be loft in the Dark.

4 C It is. And y6t it's fo common a
Cafe, that one would oot think it
ihould be at all fo. Why we are all
of us loft in the Dark every Day of
our Lives. Knaves keep us in the
Dark' by their Cunning, and Fools
by their Ignorance. Divines lofe us in
dark MyHcries ; Lawyers in dark
Cafesjand Statefmen in dark Intrigues :
Nay, the Light of Reafon, which we
fo much boaft of, what is it hut a
Dark-Lanthorn, which jurt ferves to
prevent us from running our Nofe a-
gainft a Poft, perhaps ; but is nb mort
able to lead us out of the dark Mifts
o£ Error and Ignorance, in which we
are

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( " )

are loft, than an Ignis Jattms would be
to conduft us out of this Wood.

I C, But, my Lord, this is no time,
for Preaching methinks.. And for all
your Morals, Day-light Would bd
much preferable to this Darknefs, I
believe. • , ■

3 C. Indeed wou'd it; "Bat come,
let us go on, . we fhaU;find fome Houfe
or other by and by. : '

4 C, Come along. [^Exeitnt.

Enter the K i ij g' alone.-

No, no, this can be . no publick
Road that's certain : I am loft, quite
loft indeed. Of what Advantage is
it now to be a King? Night mews
me no Refpeft : I cannot fee better,
por walk fo well, .-as, another 'Man,
What is a King ? Is he . not wifei?" ■
than another mkn ? Not without his
Counf^Hors I plainly -find." Is he not
more powerful? 1 off ha-w; been tolif
fo, indeed, but wbat i3»w can my
Power command ? le he; not greater
and more' magnificent ? When feated
on his Throne, and furrounded with
Nobles an4 Flatterers^ perhaps he
B 3 may

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( lO

xxiiy think fo, but . ndien lafl in a
Wood, alas I what is he but a common
Man ? His Wifdom knowa not .which
is North and. which is South ; bis
Power a Beggar's Dog would bark at ;

■and his Greatne^ die beggar -v^uld
not bow to. And yet how oft are we
puff *d up with the& falie Attributes ?
Well, in loHngtHe Monarch, I have
found, the Man.

[Tbe Reptrt ofa.Gun is.heard..
Hark \ Some Villain fure is near \
What were it heft to do? Will my
Majefty protefl; me ? No, Throw

. Majefty aiide then, and let Manhood
do it. . . - V

Enter rfe M i l L E R,

MiKl believe 'I hear the Rogue.
Who's there >

King. No Rogue, I afTure yoU.

Mil. Little better, Friencf> I believe.
Who fir'd that Gun?

Kin^, Not I, indeed. .

Mil. You lie, I believe.

King. Lie ! lie ! How rfrarigc iC
fcemis tome to be talk'd to in this'
Stile. [_-^fide.} Upon my Word >
don't. MiL

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( H )
MIL Come, come* Sirrah', confe& (

Su have fliot one of the King's Dccri
ve riot you ?

King. .No indeed, I owe the King *
more Refpeft. I heard .a Gun go tm*
indeed, and* was a&aid fomt Slobbers
might have been near. .

2>iBl. I am not bound to believe this* ^
Friend. Pray who are you ? What's
your Name ?

Kiwg* Name .'

^L Name * yes Name- - Why you
have a Name, have not you ? Where
do you come from ? What is . your Bu<-
finefs here ?

King. Thefe are Queftions I have-
not been ua'd to, honeft Man.

MiL May be fo ; ibuttheyare Quef-
tions no honeft Man woula be afraid
to anfwer^ I tfiink : So if you can give
no better Account of yoUr felfl I
ihall make bold to take you along
with' me, if you pleafe.

Kjitg. With you I What Authoi-
lity'have you ta-r—

Mil. The King's Aathority, if I

muft give you an Account, Sir. I

am ySm Cockle^' the Miller of Manf'

field, one of his Majcfty's Keepers in

. ' . . this

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( '4 )
this Foreft oC Sherwood ; and I will
let no fufpeftcd Fellow pafs this
Way that cannot give a better Ac-
' count of himfelf than you have done,
I promife yoQ.

King, i muft fubmit to my own

Authority. \_Mde,'] Very welt. Sir,

^ I am glad to "hear the King has fo

food an Officer : And iince I find you
avc his Authority, I will give you a
better Account of myfelf, if you will
do me the Favour to hear it.

Mil. It-'s more than you defervc,'
I believe ; but let's hear what you can
fay for yourfelf.

King. I have the Honour to belong
to the King as well a£ you, and, per-
haps, fltoum be as unwilling to fee
any Wrong done him. I came down
with him to hunt in this Foreft, and the
Chace leading us to Day a great Wjiy
from Home, I am benighted in this
Wood, and have loft my Way. * • :

Mil. This does not found well ; if
you have bcefi a huntihg, pray where.
as your Horfe ? . .

King. I have tired my Horfe fo that
he lay down under me, and I was ob*"
lig'd to leave him.

Mil. .

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( 15 )

Mil If I thought I might ]l)elieve

this now.

King* I am not ufed to lie, honeft
Man.

Mil, What ! do you live at Court,
and not lie ! that's a likely Story in-
deed.

King. Be that as it will. I fpeafc
Truth now I affurc you ;. and, to con-
vince you of it, if you will attend me
to Nvttinghamt if I am near it ; or give
me a Nig^t*s Lodging in your owd
Houfe, here is fomething to pay you
for your Trouble, and ir that is not
fufficient, I will fatisfy you in the
Morning to your utmoft Defire.

Mil. Ay, now I am conyinc'd you
are a Courtier ; here is a little Bribe
for to Bay, anji a large Promife for
To-morro\v, both in a Breath: Here,
take it again, and take this along

with it John Cockle is no Cour- .

tier, he can do what he ought — —
without a Bribe.,

King. Thou art a very extraordina-
ry Man I muft own j and I ihould be
glad, methinks, to be further acquaint^
cd with thee.

Mih '

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['6]

Mil thee! and Thou! Prythee
don't thee «nd.thou me j I believe I am
JBs good a Man as yourfelf at leaft,

King. Si^j I beg your Pardon.
. Mif. tizjt Iain not angry. Friend,
only I don't love to be too familiar
with iny-bpdy, before I know whether
they deicrve it or not^

King. You arc in the Right. But
what am I to do ?

Mii' You may do what you pleafe.
You are twelve Miles, from Not'
tingham, and all the Way through
this thick Wood ; but if you are re-
folv*d upon going thither to Night, I
wilt put you in the Road, and dircft
you the beft I can ; or if you will ac-
cept of fuch poor Entertainment as a
Miller can give, you fball be welcome
to ftay all Night, and in the Morning
I will go with you myfelf.

King. And cannot you go with mc
tp Night ?

MU' I would not go with you to
Night if you was the King.

Kit^* Then I muft go with you, I
diinfc. [Exeunt.

Sceni

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f>n

Stent chang-es to the Town o/" Mansfield*

. Dick alone.
Well, dear Mamficld, I am glad Cd
lee thy Face again. But my Heard
aches, methinks. Tor fear this ftiould
be only a Trick of theirs to get me
into their Power. Yet the Lettef
feenls to be wrote with m Air of Sin-
cerity, I confefs ; dnd the Girl wafi
"never us*d to lie till ftie kept a Lord
Company. Let me fee, I'll read it
once more.

Dear Richard,

I am at- lajt {tho' much too late /of
me) convinced of the Injury done to us both
by that bafe Man, who made me think yoii
•falfe ; he contrived thefe Letters, which
I fend you, to make me think you jufi
ufak' the Point of being -married to ano-
ther, a Thought I could not bear with
Patience, fo aiming at Reverse on yoU}
C confe?iti 4

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[ J8«]

confented to my own Undoing. But for
your own fake I beg you to return hither,
for J have fome Hopes of being able
tiK. do you Jufiice, which is the only Com-
fort of your moji dtfirej}, but ever qffe-
^ionate,

Peggy.

There can be no Cheat in this fure I
The Letters fhe has fent arc, I think,
a Proof of her Sincerity. Well, I will
go to her however : I cannot think Ihe
will again betray me : If flie has as
much Tendernefs left for me, as, in»
fpite of h«r lU-ufagCi I ftill feel for
her, I'm fure fhe won't. Let me, fee,
I am not far ti-om the Houfe> I believe.
Exit,

Setae

UpliHlbyCOOglC

[ '9]

Scene changes to a Room.
Peggy and P h oe b e.

Ph(s. Pray, Madam, make your-
felFeafy.

Peg. Ah ! Pbaibe, fhe that has loft
her Virtue, has with it loft her Eafe,
and all her Happinefs. Believing,
cheated Fool f to think him falfe.

Pbce. Be patient. Madam, I hope
you will fliortly be reveng'd on that
deceitful Lord,

Peg. I hope I fliall, for that were
juft Revenge. But will Revenge make
me happy T Will it excufe my Falf-
hood ? Will it reftore me to the Heart
of my much-injur'd Love ? Ah ! no.
That blooming Innocence he us'd to
praife, and calftte greateft Beauty oi
our Sex, is gone. I have no Charm
left that might renew that Flame I
took fuch Pains to quench.

[Kjiocking at the Door,
See who's t^ere. O Heavens 'tis he J
Alas ! that ever I fliould be afham'd to
fee the Man I love !

C a Enter

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[10]

£p?er Richard, who flunks hckh/g
on her af a DiJiancCy Jhe wcepng.

Dick. Well, Peggy (but I fu^pofe
you're Madam now in that fine. Drefs)
you fee you have brought me baclc ;
3s it to triumph in your Falftiood ? or
am I to receiv? the flighted Leavings
of your fine Lord ?

Peg. O Richard! after the Injury I
have done you, I cannot look on you
.-yi^ithout Confufion ; But do rot think
fo hardly of me ; I fta'v 'd not to be
flighted by him, for the Moment I
diftover'd his vile Plot on you, I fled
his Sight, nor could he e'er prevail
to fee me fince. ,

. Dick. Ah> Peggy! you were too
hafty in believing, and much I fear,
the Vengeance aiip'd at me, had o-:
ther Charms to reccommend it. tq
VQu: Such Bravery as that [Pointing to
%er Cloaths] I had not to beftow ; hut
if a tender, honeft Heart could pleafe,
you had it all j and if I wifli'd for
pipre, "'twas for your f^ke.

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[.I ]

Ptg. ■ O Richard I when you confidcf
the wicked Stratagem he contriv'd to
make me think you bafe and deceit-
ful , I hope you will, at leaft, pity my
Folly, and, in feme Meafure, excufe
my Fallhood ; that you will forgive
me, I dare not hope.

Z)ick. To be forc'd ' to ily from my
Friends and Country, for a Crime that
I was innocent of, is an Injury that
I cannot eafily forgive to be fure : But
if you are lefs guilty of it than I
thought, I fliall be vefy glad j and if
your Defign be really as you fay, to
clear me, and to cxpofe the Bafenefs of
him that betray'd and ruin'd you, I
will join with you with- all my Heart, ■
But how do you propofe to do this ?

Peg. The King is now in this Foreft
a h anting, and our young- Lord is every
Day with him ; Now, 1 think, if. wc
could take fome Opportunity of throw-
ing ourfelves at nis Majefty's Feet,
gnd complaining of the fnjulHce of
one of his Courtiers, it might, per-
haps^ have foipe Kffeft upon him.

Dkh

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["]

Dick. If wc were- fuffer'd to make
him fcnfibk of it, perhaps it might;
l«it the Complaints of fuch little Folks
as we feldom reach the Ears of Ma-.

P^. We can but try,

Dick. Well, If you will go with
TOC to my Father's, and ftay there ' till
fuch an Opportunity happens, I fliall
believe you in earneft* and will Joia
with you in your" Defign.

Peg. I will do any thing to croi-
vincc you of my Sincerity, and tc»
make Satisfaftion for the Injuries which
have been done you.

Z^ck. Will you go now ?
. Peg, I will be with you in lef» than
tin Hour. [ExeuMt^

Scent

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[M]

Scene changes to the Mill,

Margery and Kate Knitting,

Kate. O dear, f would not fee A

Spirit for all the World j but I love

dearly to hear Stories of them. Well*

and what then ?

Mar. And fo, at laft, in a difmal,

holiow Tone it cry'd^

[^ Knocking at the Doar /rights them '
both ; they [cream out^ and throw
down their Knitting.
Mar. >

and ^Lordblefs us .' What's that?
Kaie.\

Kate. O dear. Mother, it's fame

judgmeht upon us I'm afraid. They

fay, talk of the Devil and bell appear.

Mar. Kate, go and fee who's a£ the

Door.

Kate. I durft not go. Mother j do
you go.

Mar. Come, let's both go.
Kate. Now . don't fpeak as if you
was afraid. '

Mar.

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[ H ]

Mar- No, I won't, if I can help it*
Who's there? i . ■

Dick without'. What, won't you let
me in ?

Kate. O Gemini .' it's like our Dftk»
I think : He's certainly dead, and it's
his Spirit. .' -

Mar. Heaven forbid \ I think in my
Heart it's he himfelf. Open the Door,
Kate.

Kate. Nay, do you.

Mar. Come, we'll both open it.

\They open the Door.

Enter D l C K.

Dick. Dear Mother, how do ye do ?
I thought you would not have let ma
in.-

Mar. Dear Child, I'm over-joy'd.td ,
fee thee j but I was fo frighted, I did
not know what to do.
. Kate. Dear Brother, I am glad to
fee you ; how have you done this long
while? ^ *

Dick. Very w^U, Kate. But where's.
my Father ?

Mar*

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A&r. He heard a Gun gcr off_ juft
how, and he's g<>ne to fee who 'tis.

Dick* Whac, the^ love Venifon at
Mansfield as wdi as ever; I fuppofe ?;

Kate. Ay, and they will have it
too.

MiNer without, Moa I Ma^ge ! Kate t
bring a Light here.
. Mar. Yonder he is.

Kate. Mas He catch*d the Rogue, I
wonder?

^nter the^^iiiG itnd the Miller.

Mar. Who have you got ?

Mil. I have brought thee a Stranger,
Madge^ i thou mxift give hirfi a Suppcfi
and a Lodging if thou can'ft.

Mar. ^u have got a bctt^rStran-
ger at yotjr own, I can tell you : Dick's
come.

Mil. Dick ! Where is he ? Why
Dick I Mow is't my Lad ?

Dick. Very well, I thank you, Fa-
■ ther.

King, A little more arid you had
puih'd me down*

D - Mif,

»ib;Coo<^rc

Mil. Faitb, Sir, yoji mull: cxcufc
me ; I was -ovcr-joyM to fee my Boy;
tte has been at iMtaon, and I have not
fcen him thefe four Years.

King. Well,. I fliall once in ray Life
have the Happinefs of being treated as
a common Man ; and of feeir^g human
Nature without Difguife. [^Jide.

Mil. What has brought thee Home
fo unexpefted ?

Dick. You will know that prcfendy.

Mil, Of that by-and-by then. We
have got the King down in the Foreft
a hunting this ScaFon, and this honeft
Gentleman, who came down with his
Majefty from London, has been with
'em to Day it 'fccms, and has 'loft his
Way. Come, Madge, fee what thou
can*ft get for Supper. Kill a Couple
of the ocft Fowls ; and go you, 'Kate,
and draw a Pitcher of Ale. We are
famous. Sir, at Mansfield, for good
* Ale, and for honeft Fellows that know
how to drink it.

King. Good Ale will be acceptable

, at prefent, for I am very. dry. But

■ pray, how came your Son to leave

you, and go to London ? i

Mil.

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[^7]

Mil Why, that'j 4 Story which
Dickt perhaps, won'c Ijlte Co have
told.
' King* Then i don't deitre to hear

Bater KaTb wVA ok Earthen Pitcher
•f jile, and a Mem- ,

JW*i So, now do yoa go help yois:
Mother. Sir, my Jiearty Service to
you.

King. Thank ye. Sir, This plain
Sincerity and Freedom, is a Happinefe
unknown to Kings. l^dt.

Mil. Come, Sir. ' ;

King* Richafdt njy Service to you.

D^ck. Thank you. Sir. .

Mi/. Well, t>ick, and how do'ft
thou \ik^ LotkUn? Cotxis, tell us what
thou haft leen.

Dick. Seen f I have feen the Land
of Promife.

Mil. The Land of prowifc J What
doft thou mean ?

Dick. The Court. Father.

Mil. Thou wilt never leave joking. .

r> ? • Dick.

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[.8]

Dick. To be ferious then, I haye
fcen the Difappointment of. aU my
Hopes and ^xpeflatipns j and that's
more than oiie would with to fee.

MiL What, would the great Man
thou waft recommended to, do nothing
at all for thee at laft?
. . iJ/fi-. Why, yes ; he would promife
me to the laft.

Mi/. Zoons( do the Courtiers think
their Dependants can eatPromiics .'

l)ick.No_, no, they never trouble
their Heads to think, whether wp eat
at, all or not. I have now dangled af-
ter his Lordfhip feveral Years, tan-
.taliz'd with Hopes and Expefti-
tions ; this Year ptomifed one Place,
the next another; and the third, in
fure and certain Hope of — '— a Dif-
appointment. One rails, and it was
.promis'd before; another, and lam
juft Half an Hour too late i a third,
^nd'it ftops the Mouth of a Creditor ;
a fourth, and it pays the Hire bf a
Flatterer; a fifth, and it bribes a Vote ;
and the fixth, I am promis'd ftilh But
having thus flept away fome Years, I
awoke from my Dream : My Lord,
I found, was fo far from having it m

- ; ' -his

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t ^9]
his Powei: to gee a Place for me, that
he had been all this while fceking af-
ter one for himfelf.

Mil. Poor Dick I And is plain Ho-
nefly then a Recommendation to no
Place at Court ?

Dick. It niay recctolmedd you to be
a Footman, perhaps, but nothing fur-
ther, nothing further, indeed.- Ir you
look higher, you muft furnilh your-
felf witn other Qualifications :, ' Yoa
muft learn to fay Ay, or No ; to run,
or ftand J to fetch, or carry, or leap
over a Stick at the Word of Command.
You ijiuft be Mafter of the 'Arts of
Flattery, Infinuation, Diffimulation,
Application, vind\Poiniing tohis Paim^
right-ApplIcatipn too, if you hope to
"liaccced.

King. You don't corifider I am a
Courtier, methinks.

Dick. Kot I, indeed J ■'tis- no Con-
cern of mine what you are. If, in ge-
neral, my Charaflrer of the Court is
true, 'tis not my Fault if it's difagrca-
bletoyour Worfhip. 'There -dre par-
^ticuiar Exceptions I own, and I hope
yoy may be one.

King.

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[JO 3

■£if^.. Nay> I <feo't want to be flt6-
te^'d, fo Ux that pais. Here's bect^
Succefs to you the next Time you come
ta London.

Dick. \ thank ye; but I don't de-
sign Co fee it again in halle.

Mil. No, no, Dick j inftead <£ de-
pending upon t-ords Promifes, depend
upon tneXabour of thine own Hands ;
expeft nothing but what thou can'ft
,eam, and then thou wile not be diC-
appointed. - But come, I want aDef-
cription s£ Lon^n ; thou haft told .us
nothing thou haft f?en yet.

Dick. . O ! 'tis a fine ^lace ! I have
feen large Houfes with fmall Hofpita-
lity i great Men do little Aftions i and

£ne Ladies do nothing at all. I

have fecri the' hbneft Lawyers of ^e^-
m^er-HaU^ An4 the virtuous ' InhaDi-
tants oi ^Change-^flm. The. politick
Mad-men -of Goffee-npufes, and the
wife Statefmcfl of Bedlim. I have feen
merry 7'>:age4if'» ^'^^ ^^^ Comedies;
pcvotiop at ah Opera» and Mirth at a
Sermon ; I have feen fine Cloaths at
'^t. yames\9, and long 3iUs on Ltulgpte-
Hiil. I have feen poor Grandeur, and
rich Poverty ; high Honours, and low
Flattery ;

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[ 31 T
Flattery, great Pride, and no Merit.
In fliprt, 1 have fcen a Fool with a
Title, a Knave with a Penfion, and an
honeft Man with a Thread-bare Coat.
Pray how do you like London ?

Mih And is this the beft Ijcfcription
thou tan'ft give of it ?

Diek. Yes, _

King> Why, Richard, you arc z Sa.-
tirift, I "find.

Divk. I Jove to fpeak Truth, ' Sir ;
rf that happens to Ik HaXMCy i can't
help it.

Mil. WeU« if this is Lmdon, give
me my Gjuntry Cottage f which, thb'
it is not a great Houfe, nor a line
HodTe, is my own Houfe, -and I can
ftew a Receipt for the Building on't.

Kit^. I wifli all the ^reat Builders
in the Kingdom could lay as mach. ,

Mil. Come, Sir, our Supper, J^m-
lieve, is ready for us, by this time ^
and to fuch as I have, you'r« as wel-
come as a Prince.

Kfj^. Ithank jou. lExeunt,

Scene

»l'byC00glC

[ 5» ]

Scene changes to thi Pf^ood.
' ' Enter feverd Keepers.

I K. The Repoet of the Gtm wai
fomewherc this Way I'm fure.

% K. Yes, but I can never believe!
that any-body would come a Deef*
ftealing fo dark a Night as this.

3 K. Where did the Deer harbour
to Day ?

4 K. There was a Herd lay upon
Hamiltm-HiUt another juft by Robin
Hood's Cbair^ and a third here in

" Mansfeld fTood.

1 A» Ay, thofe they have been a-
monglt.

2 K* But' we fliall never be able to
find 'em to Night, 'tis fo dark.

3 K. No, no i let's go back again.

I K. Zoons .' you're afraid of a bro-
ken Head, I fuppofc, if we (hould find
'erh J

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*em J and fo had rather fliiik back
again. Hark ■' Stand clofe. I hea;:
*cin coming 'this Way.

Eater the Con r tie Ks,

I C Did not you hear fome-body
juft now ? Faith I b^in to be afraid
we fhall meet with fomc Misfortune
to Night.

a C. Why, if any-body ftiould tak^
what we have got, we nav^ made a
fine Bufinefs of it.

3 C. Let *em take it if they will ;
I am fo tir'd I fhall make but fmall
ReHftance.

fie Keepers rujh upon them.

2 K. Ay, Rogues, Rafcals, and

Villains, you have got it, have you?

a C, Indeed we have got but very
little, but what we have you're wel-
come to, if you .will but ufe us ci-
villy.

1 K. O, yes \ very civilly ; you de-
serve to be ys*d civilly, to be fure.

4 C. Why, what have we done that
we may not be civilly us'd }

i. iK,

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f 34]

I K. Come, come, don*t tnfle, 'fiir-
render.

I C I have but three Half-Crowns
about me.

a C Here Is Three and Six-pence
for you. Gentlemen.
■ 3 C Here's my Watch ; I have no
Money at all.

4 C. Indeed I have notliing in my
Pocket but a Snuff-box.

^ K. What, the Dogs want CO bribe
us, do they ? No, Rafcals ; you fiiaU
go before the Juftice To-morrow,
depend on't.

4 C. Before the Juftice ! What, for
being robb'd ?

I K. For being robb'd ! What do
you mean ? Who nas robb'd you ?

4 C. WhVi did not you juft now de-
mand our Money, Gentlemen ?

a if. O, .the Rafcals I They will
fwcar a Robbery againft us, f war-
rant.

4 C. A Robbery ! Ay, to be fure.
. I J^. No, no; We did not demand
your Money, we demanded the Deer
you have kill'd.

■ 4C.

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[ 35]

4 C. The Devil cake the Deer, I fay j
he led us a Chace of fix Hours, and
got away from us at laft.

I K. ^oons ! ye Dogs, do ye think
to banter us ? I tell ye you have this
Night fliot one of the King's Deer; did
not we hear the Gun go off ? Did not
we hear you fay, you was afraid it
fliould be taken from you ?

a C. We were . afraid . our Money
fliould be taken froni us. ' .

I X^ Come, conjCj no more fliuf-
fling : I tell ye, you're all Rogues,
&nd,we'Il have you, hanged, you may
depend on't. Come, let's take 'cm to;
old Ccckk% we're not far off, we'll
Keep 'ern th,erc all Night, and To-motT
rpw-mornirig we'll away with 'em be-'
fore the Juftice.

4 C A very pretty Adventure. .

[EKeunt.

E 3 ' Scent

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[36]

Scene changes to the Mill.'

King, Miller, MARGERT,«3fl(i Dick,
at Supper,

MiL Come, Sir, you trtuff mend a
bad Supper with a Glafs of good Ale :
Here's King Harrfs Health.

King. With all my Heart. Come,
Richard, here's King Harry^s Health ;
I hope you are Courtier enough to
pledge me, are not you ?

Dick. Yes, yes. Sir, TJI drink the
King's Health with all my Heart.

Mar. Come, Sir, my humble Ser-
vice to you, and much good may do
ye with your poor Supper ; I with "it
had been better.

King. You need make no Apologies.

Marg. We are oblie'd to yourGood-
nefs in excufing our Rudenefs.

Mil. Prithee, Margery, don't trou-
■ ble the Gentleman with Compliments.

Mar. Lord, Husband, if one had no
more Manners than you, tlie Gentle-
man would take us all for Hogs.

Dick.

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[37]

Dick. Now I think the more G>m-
pliments the lefs Mgoncrs.

Kinp. I think fo too. Compliments
in Difcourfe, I believe, are like Cere-
monies in Religion ; the one has de-
ftroy'd all trae Piet^^ and the other
all Sincerity and Plain-dealing.

Mi/. Then a Fig for all Ceremony
and Cortiplirnents too: Give us thy
Hand j and let ug.drink ahd'be merry.

King. Right, honeft Miller, let us
drink and be merry. Come, have you
got e'er a good Song ?

Mil Ah I my finging Days are o-
ver, but my Man Joe has got an ex-
cellent one ; and if you have a Mind
to hear it, I'll call him in. ,

Kim. With all my Heart.

Mil Joel ,.

Enter Joe.

Mil. Come, Joe, drink Boy ; \ have
promis'd this Gentleman that you
ihall ling him your laft new Song.

Joe. Well, Mafter, if you have pro-
mjg'd it- him, he fliall have it.

SONG

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[38 ]

, ,,. :r,,r:- SONG..'

-:\ --A. V ■ I.'. \/. -' , -,

How hfgm a State does tk Millar

' >/?/i? . ,, , ■

ffln wott*d be no greater, 'nor fears to

bel^^; . ;

On hit Mill and limfflf hi depciids for

IFhich ii better than fervildy cringing
. at Court* ,-, ■'

mat tho' he all dufiy and. wjiiten'd ^.
dees go.
The more he^s be-powder^d, the more
like a Beau ; '.

j1 Clown in this Drcfs may he honefttr
far
Than a Courtier who Jtruts in bs
Garten .and Star. ,.

HI.

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[39]

irr.

Tho* his Mauds are Jo daiff&*d th^'*rt
mt fit to h femt
The Hands of hs Betters are not
very clean ;
A Paint more polite may as dirti/y
deal}
Gold, in handling, will fiick to the
Fingers like Meal.

IV.

^^hat if, when a Pudding /or Xiinner
be lacks.
He cribs,- without Scrapie, from other
Men's Sacks j ,
In this of right noble Examples he
brags.
Who borrffiv as freely from other
Men^s Bags.

V.

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[4o]

V.

Or Jhould he endeavour to heap an

Bftate^
In this be wou^d mimkk the Tools of

the Stati i
llf^fe ^im is alone their Cofers to

fill.

jii all bis Concern's to bring Grj/f

to bis MIL

vr.

He eats when he's hungry , be drinks when
he's dry^
^nd down when he''s weary contented
does lie ;
Then rifes up chearful to work and to
/«f •■
1/ fo happy a Miller, then who'd he
a King.

Mil. There's a Song for you.
King. He fliould go fing this at
Court, I think.

J>ick,

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Dick. I befieve, ii* he's wife, he'H
chufe to ftay at home the'.

Enter P E G G r.

il^/. What Wind felew you hither
pray .' Yoil have a good' Share of frm
pudence, or you would be afliam'd c6
let your Foot withiil rfly Houfc, me-
thinks.-, * . , ■ .

T^. AfliaM'd I am, indeed, but da
not call me impudent. \^ff^eeps.

Dick. Dear Father, fufpend your
Anger for the prefent ; that flie is.'
here noyr is by my Direftion, and to
do me Jufticc.

Peg. To do that is all that is no*
in my Power ; for- as to myfelf, lam
ruin'd paft Redemption : My Charac-
ter, my Virtue, my Peace, are gone :
I am abandon'd by my Friends, de-
fpis'd by the World, and expos'd to
Mifffry and Want.

King. Pray Jet me know the Story
of your Misfortunes ; perhaps it may
be in my Power to do fomething to-
wards redrefiing them.

Peg. That you may learn from him

that I have wrongMj but as for me,

"¥ Shame

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[40
Shame will not let me ipeak, or hear
it told. [Exit,

King. She's very pretty.

Dick. O Sir, I once thought her an
Angel ; I lov*d her dearer than my
Xife, and did believe her Failion was
ihc fame for me : But a young Noble-
man of diis Neighbourhood happen- '
ing to . fee her, her Youth and bloom-
ing Beauty prefently ftruck his Fancy ;
a thoufend- Artifices were immedi-
ately employ'd to debauch and ruin
her. But all his Arts were vain ; not
even the Promife of making her his
.Wife, could prevail upon her : In a lit-
tle Time he found out her Love to
me, and imagining this to be the Caufe
of her Refuial, he, by forg'd Letters,
and feign'd Stories, contriv'd to make
her believe I was upon the Point of
Marriage with another Woman. Pof-
fefs'd with this Opinion, flie, in a
Rage, writes me Word, nevg: to
fee ner more; and, in Revenge, con-
fentcd to her own Undoing. Not
contented with this, nor eafy while I
was fo near her, he brib'd one of his
caft-ofF MiftrclTes to fwear a Child to
me, which fhe did : This was the Oc-
caiioa

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[ 43 ]

-cafion of my leaving my Friends, and
flying to London,

King. And how does Ae propofc t»
do you Juftlce ?

likk. Why, the King being now
in this Forelr a hunting, we dengn to
take fomc 0|)portnniCy of throwing
ourfelves at his Majefty*s Feet, ana
complaininjg of the Injuftice done us
by this Noole Villain.

Mi/. Ah, Dick ! I expea but little
Redrefs from fuch an Application.
Things of this Nature are fo common
amongft the Great, that 1 am afraid ic
will only be made a Jdl of.

King. Thofe that <:an make a Jeft
of what ought to be ihockine to Hu-
manity, furely deferve not the Name
of Great or Noble Men.

Dick. What do you think of it.
Sir ? If yon belong to the Court, you,
perhaps^ may.know fomethir^ of the
King's Temper.

King. Why, if I can judge of his
Temper at all, I think, he would not-*
fuffer the greateft Nobleman in his
Court, to do an Injuftice to the meqn-
cft Subjeft in his Kingdom. But pray,
F a who

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[44]

who is the Nobleman that- is capa-
ble of fuch Actions as cheic i*

Hick. JDo-3'ou Jcnow" my J-ord Lure-'

^■eU? -^ - .

King, yes. . .

Dick. Tliat's the Maa. - ■

King, Well, ][ would , have you
• put yftur'Defign in Execution. 'Tis
my Opinion tHb King will- not only
hear your Compiaint, , but redrcfs
your Injuries. , '

Mil. \ wiih, ^t may prove ^o: .

'^nter the Keepers Jeadit^ in tht

' CpURTlEJLS..

1 K. Hoia '] Cockk .' Where are ye ?
. Win', Man, we have .nabb'd a Pacif
of Rogues here juft' in the Faft.

.^'wf. ,Ha,' ba* ^a ■' Whjit, turn'd
fiighwaymeh, my Lodrds }'■ pt Deer*
ftealefs ? ' , - -. . .

1 C. i am very glad to iind your
Majefty in Health and' Safety. ,
■ 2 C. We hpve run "thro', i great
•many. Perils and Dangers, to Night,
but the Joy of finding yquT Majefly fa
unexpe^bdlj, will make us forget all
we have fuffer'd,

. './ Mi/.

»lb;COO<^IC

■ [ 45 ]

mi J

and ^What .' is this the Kibg ? ■

,King. I am .very glad to fee r*™* .
ray Lords, I confcfs ; ant! pirticularly
ybu, my hiOvA Lun'WeSX ■

Lure, Your Majefty -'do^S me Ho-
nour. . ■

Ki^. Yes, my Lord, and I will do
:you Juftice too ; your Honour has
been higMy wrong'd by this young
Man.
: Lure. .JiVroi^'d, my Liege?

King. T hope fo, ray Lord ;: "for I
wou'd fain believe you can't- be guil-
ty of Bafenefs and TFeachery.

Luri. I hj^e your Majefty will never
■find Hie fo, . What dares this ■ Viilain
fay? ■" ■ ■ .

Dick, i am not to bcfrighted, my
Lord, i :dare fpeafc: Ttuth at any
Time.

Lure. Whatever ftajns my -Honour
miift be falfe. ■ '' '■

King. I know it muft, my Lord ;

Fet bas thig M^an, .n<?c knowing who
was, prefum'd to charge your Lord-
ihip, not only with great Injuftice to
himfelf, but alfo with ruining an in-
nocent

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[ 46 ]
nocent Virgin whom he lov'd, and who
was to have been his Wife; which,
if true, were bafe and treacherous;
tmt I know 'tis falfe, and therefore
leave it to your Lordihip to fay what
Punifhnient I ihall inflicc upon him^
for the Injury done-to your Honour.

Lure. I thank your Majefty. I will
notr be fevere ; he fliall only ask my
Pardon, and To-morrow Morning be
oUig*d to marn^ the Creature he has
traduc'd me with.

King. This is mild. \^U, yoU
hear your Sentence.

Dick. May I not have leave to fpcafc
before your Majefly ?

King. What oan'ft thou fay ?

Dick. If I had your Majefty*« Pep-
mifHon, I believe I have certain Witr
neffes, which will undeniably prove
the Truth of all I have accus'd his
Lordihip of.

KifS' Produce them.

Dich Peggy!

Enter Veggy..

King. Do you know this Woman,
my Lord ?

ture*

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[47]

Lore* I know hcr^ pleafc your
Majefty, by Sight, me is a Tenants
Ciughter.

Peg. [Jfide.] Majefty! What, iff
this the King ?
. Dick. Yes.

King, Have you no particular Ac-*
quaintance with her ?

iMre. Hum— ——I have not fcen
her thefe feveral Months.

Dick. True, my Lord j and that is
Part of your Acculation i for, I iW-
licve, I have fome Letters which wiU
prove your Lordfhip once had a more
particular Acquaintance with her.
Here is one of the firft his Lordlhip
wrote to her, full of the tendereft and
moft iblcmn Proteftations of Love and
Conftancyi here is another which will
inform your Majefty of the Pains he
cook to ruin her j there is an abfolute
Promife of Marriage before be could
accomplifh it.

King. What fay you, my Lord, are
. thcfeyour Hand?

Lure. I believe, pleafe your Majef-
ty, I might have a little Affair of Gal-
lantry with the Girl fome Time ago.

Kim

»f.

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; [48]

King. It vas. a littJe Atfaif, my .
i.ord'; a. mean AiFaipj. and what yow
call Gallantry, I call Infamy. Do You
think, ray. Lord, that Grcatnefs gives
a Sanftion to Wickcdnefs? Or that it
is the Prerogative of Lords to be un-
joff and inh^uiiKWe? You remember
the Sentence which yoUrfelf prbnounc'd
upon this innocent Man ; you canttot,
thiiik it hard that ic fhould pafe on you
wht) are guilty.

Lure. I hope your M'ajefty will con-
itder my Rank, and not oblige me to
marry her.

King. Yciur Rank! my Lord. Great--
nefs that ftoops to A'fiibna bafc and
Ibw, defMts- its Jlank, and pulls its
Honours down. What makes your
Lordftiip Great ? Is it your gilded
Equipage and Drefs ? Then put it on
your meaneft Slave, and he's as great
as you. Is it your Riches or Eftate ?
The Villain that fliquld plunder you
of all, would then be great as you.
No, my Lord, he that Afts greatly, is'
the true Great Man. I therefore think
you ought, in Juftice, to marry her,
you thus have wrong'd.

Peg.

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t

t 49 ]

Peg. Let my Tears thank your Ma-
jefty. But, alas ! I am afraid to mar-
ry this young Lord ; that would only
;ive him Power to ufe me worfe, and

11 encreafe my Mifery : I therefore
beg your Majefty will not command
him to do it.

King, Rife then, and hear me. My
Lord, you fee how low the greateft
Nobleman may be reduced by unge-
nerous Aftions. Here is, undfer your
own H^nd, an abfolute Promife of
Marriage to this youngWoman, which,
from a thorough Knowledge of your
iUnworthinefs, me has prudently de-
clJn'd to make you fulfil. I ihall there-
fore not infiftuponiCj but I command
you, upon Pain of my Difpleafure, im-
mediately to fettle on her Three hundred
Pounds a Year.

Peg, May Heaven reward your Ma-
jefty's Goodnefs. 'TIs.too much for
me, but if your Majefty thinks fie, let
it be fettled upon this much-injured
Man, to make fome Satisfadion for
the Wrongs which have been done
him. As to myfelf, 1 only fought to ,
clear the Innocence of him I lov'd and
G wrong'd.

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( 50 )
wrongM,thcn hide me from the World*
and (Ke forgiven.

DicK Tnis A&. of generous Virtue
cancels all paft Failings ; come to my
Arms, and be as dear as ever.

Peg, You cannot fure forgive me ! .

Dick. I can, I do, and ftill will
.make you mine.

Peg. \ why did I ever wrong fijch
generous Love !

Dick, Talk no more of it. Here
let us kneel, and thank the Goodnef§
which has made us bleft.

King, May you be happy-

Mil. {Kneels\ After I have {een fo
much of your Majefty's Goodnefs, I
cannot delpair of Pardon, even for the
rough Ufage your Majefty rcceiv'd
from me.

\The King draws his Sword^tbe Mil-
ler is jrighted, and rifes up^ think-
ing he was gting to kill him.
What have I dane that I fliould lof<;
my Life ?

King. Kneel without Fe:M'. No,
my good Hoft, fo faf are you from
having any thing to pardon, that 1 am
much your Debtor. I cannot think
but fo good andhoneft a Man will
make

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(51 )
make aworthj' and honqurable Knight,
to rife up. Sir yohn Cockle : And, to
fupport your State, and in fomc fort
requite the Pleafure you have done us,
, a Thoufand Marks a Year fliall be
jour Revenue,

Mil Your Majefty's Bounty I receive '
with Thankfulnefs j I have been guilty
of no Meanriefs to obtain it , and
hope i ihall not be obliged to keep it
upon bafe Conditions j for tho' I am
willing to be a faithful Subje61:, I am
-Tcfolv'd to be a frecand an honeft Man,
King. I rely upon your being fo :
And to gain the Friendship ofiucha
one, I fhall always think an Addition
to lay Happinefs, tho' a King.

Worth, in whatever State, is fure 2. Prize
Which Kings, of all Men, ought not to dcfpife i
- By fclfifh Sycophants fo cloie beficg'd,
'lis by mecr Chance a worthy Man's cijllg'd :
But hence, to every Courtier belt known,
Yirtue fliii,ll find.Protcdlion from the Throne.

FINIS.

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Head in Pall-Mall, the following
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that ever was wrote in the Emiijh
.Language. Written by Thomas Sack-
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